If you live in Colorado like I do, you are very well aware that we are making history for not having any snow. A lot of people stay or move to Colorado because of the amount of outdoor recreation opportunities that exist. If you know, you know!

If you’re a local or even guest, you may have felt a wide variety of emotions in the last six months because of this lack of snow. I have heard and felt a few of these:

• Fear from what might happen this summer after a historically low snow season.
• Saddness from not experiencing as many awe-inspiring powder days.
• Confusion as to how this can happen.
• Helpless because I can’t singlehandedly change the situation.
• Anxiety because, well, it’s all unclear.
• Frustrated as I want those in powerful positions to do everything they can to reduce greenhouse gases.

We’ve been dealt cards. We have options as to how we choose to play them. We can double punish ourselves and continue to feel negative emotions. Swirl in them. Or we can accept that Colorado has made history. Then take the necessary steps to do our part.

• Clear your outdoor spaces of potential fire hazards
• Stay informed on water restricions
• Create an emergency plan and a to go bag
• Then get back to your goals & priorities

Borrowing a parable from Buddhist teachings. The Buddha shares a story about two arrows. The first arrow hits us out of nowhere.
Getting rear ended.
Answering the dreaded call about the status of an aging loved one.
Having a coworker quit and leave us hanging alone on a massive project.
Breaking our arm eating a granola bar while biking.
Hearing that your part of the 20% staffing cut.
Getting the results back on health tests.
Hearing that your accidental fat finger ENTER cost your company $50,000
Losing your 12 year old beloved pet.

The second arrow is our response to the first. A lot of what happens to us at work and personally is out of our control. And a lot of our suffering comes from that second arrow. Our interpretation of events matters. How we respond to conflict, unfortunate events like sickness/death, the injustice of the world, and human fallibility are examples of things can add weight to our shoulders. The first arrow may take us awhile to heal from. There are awful, unbelievably terrible things that happen. And I’m so sorry for that.

It sucks that pain is an inevitable part of the human experience.
Suffering though, that’s more within our control. From the little to the big things.

When someone takes our parking spot, we can move on to the next.
When someone disagrees with our ideas at work, we can learn how they see it.
When an injury leads to surgery, we can enjoy adventure inside books.
When heartbreak happens, and it will, we can acknowledge both grief and gratitude.
And when we live through a winter of no snow, we can take today as a gift and get on giving our gifts to the people that need it most.

Once your through the pain from that first arrow, find the second. Hold it. See if it serves you any longer.
If not, choose the courage that’s already within you, drop that sucker and walk on!

We have enough first arrows. No need to hold or throw the second one at yourself so much.

Speaking of walking, talking and throwing dirt:
2026 Ladies Trail Crew & Events

Interested in serving the community of Eagle County, making friends, being in nature, working on things that will last longer than you?

• April 16th VVMTA Ladies Trail Crew: Technical Skills Training
• April 30th VVMTA Ladies Trail Crew
• May 2nd ERWC Highway Cleanup 8:30am-12pm Email me directly to join
• May 14th VVMTA Spring Kick-Off Party
• May 26th VVMTA Ladies Trail Crew
• June 18th VVMTA Ladies Trail Crew
• July 8th VVMTA Ladies Trail Crew
• August 18th VVMTA Ladies Trail Crew
• September 15th VVMTA Ladies Trail Crew